Rialto swears in new mayor, councilman

RIALTO -- Deborah Robertson was sworn in as mayor alongside new Councilman Shawn O'Connell during a raucous ceremony at City Hall on Tuesday night.

The room felt like a concert hall when Robertson and O'Connell took their oaths.

"Boy, gee," Robertson said. "I never thought I'd be a rock star."

Robertson, a longtime councilwoman who defeated former Councilman Ed Scott in November, described her rise to the mayor's office as an "amazing journey," one where she has stood on the shoulders of her ancestors.

After thanking friends, family and political supporters, she read a Scripture from John 9:4, which says in part, "We must work the works of him who sent me."

Robertson replaces former Mayor Grace Vargas, who had served since 2000.

O'Connell described his campaign as a grassroots effort and thanked his supporters. Then he announced his phone number.

"I will not forget that I work for you," he said.

One of the first orders of business for the council was to eliminate the perchlorate surcharge that ratepayers have paid since 2004.

The surcharge helped pay for perchlorate contamination cleanup on the north end of the city.

A rocket-fuel additive, perchlorate may affect the human thyroid gland and its ability to produce hormones needed for normal growth

The 4-0 decision to eliminate the surcharge came a week after the Defense Department and nine companies agreed to pay $50 million for the cleanup.

More than $17.7 million in perchlorate surcharges have been used in litigation and cleanup.

Eliminating the perchlorate surcharge is expected to reduce the scheduled Jan. 1 monthly water rate from $46.59 to $35.54 for the typical single family residence.

Councilman Ed Palmer said the surcharge has been a constant topic among residents during his four years on the dais, adding, "I don't think there has been any council meeting where someone hasn't come up" and spoken about it.